Robbie Keane’s new job in Israel is a “matter for him”, Leo Varadkar has said. 

The former Republic of Ireland striker moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv earlier this year, taking over as manager of the Israeli Premier League's most successful club.

Sinn Féin has strongly opposed Israel’s war on Hamas and party President Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Keane was wrong to accept the job. 

“I know some people say sport and politics shouldn’t mix ... I think sport should be a force for good, for human capacity and human excellence and enjoyment and participation,” she said. 

“I have a real problem with sport when it is under the remit of an apartheid regime and where genocide is being committed.”

Boycott of Israel

Speaking to journalists, the Taoiseach said Mr Keane’s employment is “up to him” and questioned whether boycotting Israel is “the best way for us to achieve what we’re trying to achieve.” 

“Primarily that’s a matter for him,” he said. 

“He was offered a job and he’s taken it up in Tel Aviv. 

“There are a lot of very good people in Israel who want there to be peace, who want justice for Palestinians, who want there to be a two state solution. 

“They used to be the majority, they’re now the minority, I think they can be the majority again.” 

On October 7th, Hamas killed over a thousand Israelis and kidnapped several hundred more. 

Since then, the Israeli Defence Forces have killed an estimated 20,000 people in Gaza in its efforts to “eliminate” Hamas.

Main image: Robbie Keane during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile